Assistive walking cane

ABSTRACT

An assistive cane and a tip assembly therefore are provided. The assistive walking cane includes a handle used to hold the walking aid, a shaft connected to the handle that transmits a load from the handle, and a ferrule connected to the shaft that receives the load from the shaft. The ferrule includes an inner core, an outer support, and a lower base. The inner core is contained within a space defined by the outer support and the lower base. The outer support includes a plurality of downwardly extending sidewalls to define the inner core receiving space. The inner core is made of a relatively softer material than the outer support and the lower base, the lower base made of a relatively softer material than the outer support. Thus, when a load is applied to the assistive cane the inner core provides for a gradual resistance to the user applying the load, thus cushioning the impact, and the sidewalls deflect or bend outwardly, thus increasing the surface area of the lower base.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to walking aids, including assistive walking canes and a tip assembly therefore.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Whether known as a walking stick, a walking pole or simply a cane, assistive walking canes are used as mobility aids by injured or disabled user. Assistive walking canes can serve several different functions as appropriate to the needs of the user, including aiding in balance and supporting a weakened or painful limb or joint.

In contrast to crutches, assistive walking canes are generally lighter, but because assistive walking canes transfer the load through the user's unsupported wrist, are unable to offload equal loads from the legs. Another type of crutch is the walker, a frame held in front of the user on which the user leans on during movement. Walkers are more stable due to their greater area of support surface contact, but are larger and less wieldy and, like assistive walking canes, pass the full load through the user's wrists.

While the origin of assistive walking canes no doubt extends back to the dawn of civilization, around the 17th or 18th century, a stout rigid stick took over from the sword as an essential part of the European gentleman's wardrobe, used primarily as a walking aid. The standard cane was rattan with a rounded metal grip. The clouded cane was made of malacca (rattan stems). Some canes had specially weighted metalwork. Other types of wood, such as hickory, are equally suitable. In North America, a walking cane is a walking stick with a curved top much like a shepherd's staff, but shorter. Thus, although called “canes”, assistive walking canes are usually made of material heavier than cane, such as wood or metal.

Today, most assistive walking canes are provided with a rubber or polymeric tip in an effort to provide stable engagement between the assistive walking cane and an underlying support surface. The conventional tip has an upwardly extending axial recess adapted to receive the lower extremity of shaft, or the like, and has its end engagable with the adjacent support surface. In practice, however, conventional rubber tips possess limitations that can result in injury to the user. For example, most rubber tips contain a flat or concave bottom surface. In theory, when a load is applied to the crutch, the concave lower surface will deflect to bring the entire lower surface into contact with the support surface to obtain a maximum area of surface contact; however, in practice very rarely does the lower end of the tip lay flat against the support surface when the load is applied. Indeed, the tip is usually at an angle to the vertical, with the result that only a small portion of the periphery of the tip actually engages the support surface. Thus, the shaft of the assistive walking cane needs to be held in substantially vertical alignment, so that contact on the bottom of the tip will flatly engage the support surface. Quad canes having a base attached to the shaft that provides four tips compound this drawback as all four tips must engage the support surface for the quad cane to be stabile.

Unfortunately, in an effort to steady themselves people frequently hold assistive walking canes at an outward angle from their bodies, so that the shaft extends at an angle to the support surface rather than straight up and down. This causes the rubber tip to contact the support surface at an angle, with only an edge of the tip engaging the support surface. Consequently, when the user's weight bears on the assistive walking cane at this angle, the tip tends to slide out, often causing the person to fall.

One attempt to address this problem is to form the tip with a rounded extremity; however, because only a small portion of this rounded extremity comes into contact with the support surface, the risk of slippage, particularly under conditions such as slippery or wet surfaces, is increased.

Thus, what would be beneficial is to provide an assistive walking cane tip that achieves increased traction with support surfaces when the assistive walking cane is angled outwardly in front of or behind a user as well as slightly laterally as is typical of users. It would also be what would be beneficial to provide an assistive walking cane tip that improves the level of comfort of use to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An assistive walking cane and a tip therefore in accordance with the principles of the present invention achieves increased traction with support surfaces when the assistive walking cane is angled outwardly in front of or behind a user as well as slightly laterally as is typical of users. An assistive walking cane and a tip therefore in accordance with the principles of the present invention achieves improves the level of comfort of use to the user. An assistive walking cane in accordance with the principles of the present invention includes a handle used to hold the walking aid, a shaft connected to the handle that transmits a load from the handle, and a ferrule connected to the shaft that receives the load from the shaft. The ferrule includes an inner core, an outer support, and a lower base. The inner core is contained within a space defined by the outer support and the lower base. The outer support includes a plurality of downwardly extending sidewalls to define the inner core receiving space. The inner core is made of a relatively softer material than the outer support and the lower base, the lower base made of a relatively softer material than the outer support. Thus, when a load is applied to the assistive cane the inner core provides for a gradual resistance to the user applying the load, thus cushioning the impact, and the sidewalls deflect or bend outwardly, thus increasing the surface area of the lower base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a user with an assistive walking cane taking a step with the user's “good” leg.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the user of the assistive walking cane of FIG. 1 taking a step with the user's “bad” leg and thus relying on the cane.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of an assistive walking cane tip in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a cut-away, side-elevation view of the assistive walking cane tip of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, an assistive walking cane, a walking stick, a walking pole or the like and a tip assembly therefore are provided. Referring first to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a user 9 is seen with an assistive walking cane 10. The assistive walking cane 10 includes a handle 12, which is used to hold the assistive walking cane 10. Ergonomically shaped handles have become increasingly common for assistive walking canes intended for medical use, both increasing the comfort of the grip for the user (particularly important for those users with disabilities which also affect their hands or wrists), and better transmitting the load from the user's hand and arm. All different styles of handles are contemplated for use with an assistive walking cane 10 of the present invention.

A shaft 14 of the assistive walking cane 10 transmits the load from the handle 12 to a tip or ferrule 16. The shaft 14 may be constructed from carbon fiber polymer, metal, composites or traditional wood. A collar 16 of an assistive walking cane 10 can form the structural interface between shaft 14 and the handle 12. The tip or ferrule 16 of the assistive walking cane 10, described in detail below, provides traction and added support.

When used as a mobility or stability aide, assistive walking canes 10 are generally used in the hand 17 opposite the injury or weakness. This may appear counter-intuitive, but this allows the assistive walking cane 10 to be used for stability in a way that lets the user 9 shift much of their weight onto the assistive walking cane 10 and away from their weaker leg 15 as they walk. Thus, in FIG. 1 the user is talking a step with “good” leg 13, while moving the assistive walking cane 10 forward into position for use on the subsequent step.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a user with the assistive walking cane 10 of FIG. 1 taking a step with the user's injured or disabled leg 15. The user 9 shifts much of their weight onto the assistive walking cane 10 and away from their weaker leg 15 as they take the step.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an exploded view of an assistive walking cane ferrule 16 in accordance with the principles of the present invention is seen. The ferrule 16 comprises an inner core 23, an outer support 25, a lower base 27, and a hardened insert 29. Visible ribs or bellows are provided on the outer periphery of the lower base 27 to improve the frictional contact of the ferrule 16 with the support surface and to help prevent hydroplaning. Thus, the ferrule 16 tread pattern is made up of tread lugs 36 and voids 38. The lugs 36 are the sections of the tread that make contact with the support surface; voids 38 are the spaces that are located between the lugs 36. These features are designed to extract liquid and solids to the outside periphery when pressure is applied, allowing for improved contact to the support surface. In one embodiment, a base insert 32 can be provided to be secured within a recess 34 defined in the lower base 27. This base insert 32 is made of a material harder than the material of the lower base 27 in order to provide better wear and tear resistance.

FIG. 4 shows a cut-away, side-elevation view of the assistive walking cane ferrule 16 of FIG. 3. The inner core 23 is seen contained within a space defined by the outer support 25 and the lower base 27. The hardened insert 29 is seen contained at the lower periphery of a cavity defined in the outer support 25 to received the shaft 14 of the assistive walking cane 10. The hardened insert 29 helps prevent the shaft 14 from penetrating the soft inner core 23 and adds to the overall strength of ferrule 16. In one embodiment, the hardened insert 29 can comprise a steel washer. The base insert 32 is secured within the recess 34 defined in the lower base 27.

The inner core 23 is comprised of a relatively softer material than the outer support 25 and the lower base 27, while the lower base 27 is comprised of a relatively softer material than the outer support 25. The inner core 23 can comprise any material that provides for good deflection. The material could be an elastomeric or a pocket containing gel, foam, air or some other material that provides adequate shock resistance.

The outer support 25 comprises the shaft 14 receiving cavity, which as previously detailed includes at the lower periphery thereof the hardened insert 29, and defines a space 41 to receive the inner core 23. The space 41 is defined by a plurality of downwardly extending sidewalls 43, in the embodiment described herein four. The downwardly extending sidewalls 43 provide a “spring action” to the sidewalls 43 so sidewalls 43 compress when weight is placed on the bottom. The space 41 allow the the inner core 23 outward “movement” (escape), giving more functional flexibility. Defined on the inner periphery of each of the downwardly extending sidewalls 43 is a tongue 45. The tongue 45 is adapted to be received within a groove 47 defined on the inner core 23.

The lower base 27 comprises a flexible, variable-thickness, rounded bottom designed to provide good support surface contact. The varying wall thickness of the lower base 27 selectively enhances the flexibility of the lower base. As seen in FIG. 4, the outer periphery of the lower base 27 is thicker relative to the inner core of the lower base 27. Thus, the inner core flexes less readily than the outer periphery. As previously explained, the inner core 23 is comprised of a relatively softer material than the outer support 25 and the lower base 27, while the lower base 27 is comprised of a relatively softer material than the outer support 25. It will be understood by one of skill in the art that the relative thickness of the outer periphery and the inner core of the lower base 27 will depend on the resiliency of the material chosen for the lower base 27 and the degree of desired flexibility.

The design of the different parts and different resiliencies employed enables the bottom wall flex while still providing sufficient support of the applied load. As seen in FIG. 4, when a load is placed downwardly on the ferrule 16 via the shaft 14, the compression of the relatively pliable inner core 23 acts as a “shock absorber” or provides for a gradual resistance to the user applying the load, thus cushioning the impact with the support surface. In addition, the sidewalls 43 deflect or bend outwardly under load, thus affecting the ferrule 16 footprint by increasing the surface area in contact with the support surface. This deflection provides more traction and contact with the support surface. Still further, the deflection coupled with the rounded tread design allows for the assistive cane of the present invention to be used within an approximately 45 degree angle, thereby alleviating the requirement that the shaft of the assistive walking cane be held in substantially vertical alignment and reducing slippage.

In one embodiment, a vibration dampening assistive walking cane 10 of the present invention can be offered. In an additional embodiment, the ferrule 16 can be offered alone as a cost effective way of converting ordinary canes into a vibration dampening assistive walking cane 10 of the present invention.

While the invention has been described with specific embodiments, other alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, while in the presently described example of the invention an assistive cane was describe, the principals of the present invention can be applied to any such to walking aids, be it a walking stick, a walking pole, crutches, walkers, and the like. Accordingly, it will be intended to include such alternatives, modifications and variations within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. A walking aid comprising: a handle used to hold the walking aid; a shaft connected to the handle that transmits a load from the handle; a ferrule connected to the shaft that receives the load from the shaft, the ferrule comprising an inner core, an outer support, and a lower base; the inner core contained within a space defined by the outer support and the lower base, the outer support comprising plurality of downwardly extending sidewalls to define the inner core receiving space; the inner core comprised of a relatively softer material than the outer support and the lower base, the lower base comprised of a relatively softer material than the outer support; wherefore when a load is applied to the walking aid the inner core provides for a gradual resistance to the user applying the load, thus cushioning the impact, and the sidewalls deflect or bend outwardly, thus increasing the surface area of the lower base.
 2. The walking aid of claim 1 further comprising a hardened insert contained at the lower periphery of a cavity defined in the ferrule to received the shaft.
 3. The walking aid of claim 1 further wherein the inner core comprises a material selected from the group consisting of an elastomeric, gel, foam, and air.
 4. The walking aid of claim 1 further wherein an inner periphery of the downwardly extending sidewall defines a tongue adapted to be received within a groove defined on the inner core.
 5. The walking aid of claim 1 further wherein the lower base comprises a flexible, variable thickness, rounded bottom, an outer periphery of the lower base being thicker relative to an inner core of the lower base.
 6. The walking aid of claim 1 further wherein the lower base defines a plurality of a tread lugs and voids.
 7. The walking aid of claim 1 further wherein the handle and the shaft are connected by a collar.
 8. A walking aid ferrule comprising: a shaft receiving cavity; an inner core; an outer support comprising a plurality of downwardly extending sidewalls to help define an inner core receiving space; a lower base connected to the plurality of downwardly extending sidewalls to define the inner core receiving space; the inner core comprised of a relatively softer material than the outer support and the lower base, the lower base comprised of a relatively softer material than the outer support; wherefore when a load is applied to the ferrule the inner core provides for a gradual resistance to the user applying the load, thus cushioning the impact, and the sidewalls deflect or bend outwardly, thus increasing the surface area of the lower base.
 9. The walking aid ferrule of claim 8 further comprising a hardened insert contained at the lower periphery of a cavity defined in the ferrule to received the shaft.
 10. The walking aid ferrule of claim 8 further wherein the inner core comprises a material selected from the group consisting of an electrometric, gel, foam, and air.
 11. The walking aid ferrule of claim 8 further wherein an inner periphery of the downwardly extending sidewall defines a tongue adapted to be received within a groove defined on the inner core.
 12. The walking aid ferrule of claim 8 further wherein the lower base comprises a flexible, variable thickness, rounded bottom, an outer periphery of the lower base being thicker relative to an inner core of the lower base.
 13. The walking aid ferrule of claim 8 further wherein the lower base defines a plurality of a tread lugs and voids. 